Process of making sculptors&#39; molds.



H. L. MORBLU.

v PROCESS/0P MAKING SGULPTORS MOLDS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 22. 1910.

996,783, Patented July 4, 1911.

[Tove/7117x97 Mad/M M/lMMu able skilled Work in modifying the molds tois usually applied in mass to the subject, so

tion will be pointed out more at length in UNITED STATES PATENT orrioa.

PROCESS OF MAKING SCUIIIPTORS, MOLDS.

996,783, Specification of Letters Patent, I Patented J uly 4, 1911 IApplication filed August 22, 1910. Serial No. 578,372. I a

ess, whereby thelatter may more readily e understood, Figure 1 showingthe mold partly in section and partly in side elevation; Fig. 2 being aperspective View illustrating the applying portion of the process, andFig. 3 a perspective View of a portion of the mold-securing means. Formore conveniently describing my process, let it besupposed that a moldof a head (from life or otherwise) is to be made.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, HECTOR L. MoREAU, a

citizen of the nited States, and resident of Ipswich, in the county ofEssex and State 5 of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement inProcesses of Making Sculptors Molds, of which the followin description,

in connection with the accompanying drawlngs, is a specification, likeletters on the 10 drawings representing likeparts.

The present process of making a reproduction from life (or, for thatmatter, from inanimate objects also) usually requires not only aplurality of molds but alsoconsiderpreferably flour paste-so as torender them counteract the inevitable distortions which are. produced'bythe various processes as now practiced. ,For instance, in taking a lifeThe hair of the head is then treated with similar paste or with oil, orwith a layer of very thin cold wax, or a layer of tissue pasolution ofwax-like material, relatively quick-setting, and capable of being meltedat a .low temperature, is prepared, preferably consisting of beeswax androsin (the latter to stiffen the beeswax), and then ap- 30 plied to thesubject melting-hot by means of a soft brush. I have discovered that aperfect mold can be made in this manner. I wishat-tliis point.toemphasize the importanceof this part of my invention and to make itclear that this is the most important. feature of the invention. Themelting point of the mold material is above the objecttreated, z. c. itis above blood-heat, and said material becomes fluid at. a ten'iperaturewhich permits its application in thin layers without injury to the skin.By applying. in

a series of exceedingly thin light layers, a substance capable of beingso applied and 2 of sculptors to counteract, b 1 the skilful use of theknife on the plaster of Paris, such distort-ions or inaccuracies of themold, thus requiring not only a first mold, but a castingtherefrom,modified as stated, and then 30 another mold from said casting,'etc.This is only one of the'many features of the cumersome process as atpresent employed, which it is the objectof my invention to eliminate.

35 By my process, the mold material is ap- 4 time and expense heretoforerequired, the the curves and angles of the sub ect and setchisel, suchas the haireand beard, the mold is readily removed from the subject, thematerial composing the mold may be used over again repeatedly, the partsthereof are readily separated and again joined, etc. All these andfurtheradvantages of my 1nven- 45 wax or mold material of suchcomposition that it does not melt at blood-heat and yet becomes readilyfluid at a temperature which permits of its application in the thinlayers mentioned without injury to the skin, and then by putting such acomposition on in said thin layers, the wax takes on the m1- nutestdetails of the object to which it is ap plied. Rendering the Wax thin byheat or in other Words providing a mold material subservient to heat inthe respects already explained, and applying-the heat as a part thecourse of the following description of the process in all its preferredsteps, and said process will be more particularly defined in theappended claims.

' In the drawings, I haveshown one form of-mold constructed according tomy proc- 361 ma be a) )lied as a se )aratorl Thena 75 i 3 l capable ofat once conforming accurately to 95 ing any delicate feature. By havingthe 0 with the brush, instantly conforms with the r making the mold forabust, the wire is secarefully around the outermost projection or rim ofthe ear to the top thereof, "vertically over the head, about theopposite ear in the same Way, down the neck and along the shoulder andsecured around or under 70 the opposite arm. Another Wire is extendedover the head at right angles to the first wire, being led down over theforehead, nose, mouth, chin, neck, etc. at the front and along the hair,neck, etc. at the back. Other wires 75 may be applied in such directionsand relations to each other and to the subject as the skillof theoperator or the peculiarities of the subject may require. Then thelayers of wax are applied, as already explained, said wax 80 serving notonly to take the mold impression but to hold the fine wires in placeagainst the subject. After the first few layers of wax have beenapplied, suitable anchor blocks or holding straps are applied at thoseplaces 85 where the various parts of the mold,when subsequentlyseparated, must be held together, said anchoring devices beingmaintained in place by the subsequent layer or layers of wax. Alsopreferably strengthening strips 90 are inserted where desirable, andalso held in place by being embedded in the wax as the building-up ofthe mold proceeds.

In the drawings, I have indicateda vertical side wire 1, front and backwire 2, a 95 horizontal transverse wire 3, and a diagonal transversewire 4, in' order that my invention may be better understood. The hairis filled, as indicated at 5, with a pasty or of the process) givesbetter results than if a solvent were used for softening the molmaterial, because the heat leaves the thin or melted mold materialdenser and there is no 5 resulting tendency to draw or contract. Eachindividual layer is so thin and light that it may be said to rest uponthe surface without weight, or at least without effect thereon.The'first layer, when painted on utmost nicety to the surface upon whichit is brushed or painted, and the next layer reinforces the first layerand aids in perpetuating the initial conformation secured by the firstor foundation layer, and each succeeding layer acts as a reinforcing andstrengthening support and brace until finally a thickness has beenattained which is not only permanent but sufficiently strong towithstand all the subsequent handling which may be necessary. After thefirst few layers have been applied by means of the brush, the melted waxmay be put on in a much more rapid fashion and in a less flui state, asthe function thereof is simply to strengthen and reinforce the first fewlayers, said first few layers being those which are depended upon forreceiving the moldshape and providing the molding surface forsubsequently receiving the plaster of Paris or other substance which ispoured into the wax mold to make the ultimate cast for the sculptorsguidance.

I have found that by using a soft brush, made, for instance, ofcamelshair, and applying the hot wax thereby with a quick, short,delicate movement, so that only a thin layer of thewax is left on theface and so that the larger body of the wax contained in the 40 brush isnot permitted to rest or tarry upon the flesh, there is no liability ofburning or injuring the flesh. The successive layers, at the beginningof the operation as stated, are all applied in substantially the sameway by the brush, each successive layer cohering with the precedinglayer so that a considerable thickness is quickly built up by a seriesof rapid to-and-fro brushing movements of the brush, said brush beingfrequently dipped into the melting-hot wax for the double purpose ofgetting a fresh supply and maintaining at the proper temperature theportion thereof which is in the brush.

In order that the mold maybe readily di' vided into such number of partsof such definite shape as may be desirable or required y the particularsubject of which a mold is being made, I lay on the subject, before thewax is applied, one or more fine wires along 9 those lines where it isdesired that the mold shall subsequently part. For instance, in

the wax is applied insuccessive layers 6, 6 until a sufficient thicknessis formed to endure rougher treatment, whereupon anchor blocks 7 havingroughened, corrugated, or otherwise reentrant sides, holes, or angles 1for giving a good gripping surface to the wax, are placed on theseinitial layers 6 and then further wax is applied, preferably more or,less in mass, until these blocks are embeddedand held firmly stationaryin the thicker outer layer 8 of wax. At such places as are required forany reason, as for instance where the mold tapers to a more or lessslender portion, as about the neck, re-

inforcing strips 9 are inserted of wood orother material, curved orotherwise to suit the shape, which strips are embedded in the wax as thelatter continues to be applie When the requisite thickness of wax hasbeen applied, the wire ends 10, which have been left protruding, aregently pulled, thereby lifting outwardly the fine wire, which readilycuts through the enveloping wax and severs the latter into the parts tocompose the mold. These parts, having been lifted from the subject, arethen secured together by plates 12 and suitable fastening means, such asscrews 13. As each section or part of the mold is secured to an adjacentsection or part, the operator runs 'a hot cured under one arm-pit andthence passed I. up along the top of the shoulder and the side 65 of theneck to the lobe of the ear, and thence oily substance, as previouslyexplained, and 100 usual of results,

knife or tool along the joint, thereby tightly closing the seam or lineof severance, adding a slight amount of wax if necessary. It will beunderstood that tubes are inserted in manner in the nostrils, the earsare its application in thin layers without injury to the skin, renderi gsaidmaterial fluid or thin by means of heat, applying the same insuccessive coatings, each. as thin as sible, embedding therein at themolded surface fine cutting filaments wit-h their free ends extendingoutwardly be externally accessible with reference to the completed mold,and thereafter building up materialth ereupon to the desired tuckness.

2. The process of making-a mold, which consists in providing a moldmaterial having a melting point above blood heat and fluidifying at atemperature which permits its application in thin-layerswithout injuryrendering said material fluid or thin by means of heat, applyingsuccessive and Which,- being usual and a part ofmy invention, therreferred to. 1

From the foregoing description, it will be evident that my invention 1sread1ly applid material, applied in exceedingly thin and light layers,it has no tendency to depress a soft part such as the check or hair, andyet, .by reason of the superposition of layer after layer, a finallyrigid mold is built up capable of producing a cast or casting withabsolute wax, is

a quick, short, soft brushing movement, and thereafter building up moldmaterial thereuponto the desired thickness, i

layer of tissue paper or any other suitable 3. The process of making amold, which thin separator may be used for maintainm consists inproviding a mold material havthe the desired sheet- Preferably both thepaste filler and the tissue paper separator are employed.

to the skin, rendering said material Not only does my process secureaccuracy or thin by means of heat, applying the but it requires verylittle apparatus, is quick in its appl' lcation, and comparativelyinexpensive; After the desired same in successive coatin s, each as thinas o sible, thereafter building up mold material thereupon-t0 thedesired thickness, and embedding anchoring devices in-the mold ma:terial during the building-up operation. In testimony whereof, I avesigned my name to this specification, in two subscribing witnesses.

HECTOR L. MOREAU.

I -Iaving described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. The process of making a mold, which Witnesses: I consists inproviding a mold material hav- WEBSTER BARROWS, ing a melting pointabove blood heat and GED. H. MAXWELL;

fluidifying at a temperature which permits the ob ect being molded bybrusha suflicient distance to the presence of

